At 9^th months pregnant, you are in the 36th week of pregnancy. This means you are only 4 weeks away from your delivery. The journey from your month 1^st to 9^th isn’t always have been easy, yet filled with memories but, for the most part, you would have taken good care of yourself. There are some things you need to keep in mind during your 9^thmonth pregnant period. Your time will be going in waiting for the baby to arrive. The medical check-ups will have a perfect routine and you must have been doing them for the last six months. You will be spending time visiting the doctor. Now only some check-ups are left which might be done to determine the position or deformities of the baby. You will be busy choosing a name for your baby, and the need to see and hold your baby is now becoming more intense. Baby is being impatient and you are gearing up yourself.

Baby Development 9^th month of pregnancy

• During this stage, the fetus continues to grow and mature. Baby becomes pretty plump and by full-term, fat makes up about 16% of the baby’s weight.
• The lungs become mature during this time in preparation for birth.
• Reflexes become more coordinated and the baby responds to sounds, blink, grasp, and turn head.
• Baby’s upper and lower limbs are chubby.
• Since it is time for the baby to be ready and set to push way out, the baby’s skin will change as it will not get protection from the amniotic sac, the substance, vernix, is shedding away.
• The fine hair – lanugo that covers your baby’s body also begins to wear off.
• Your baby shows a spontaneous orientation to light. The nervous system is now mature.
• There is little space for maneuvers in the uterus, and the baby moves less.
• At full term, the skin is bluish-pink, baby’s chest is prominent.
• The testes have descended into the scrotum.
• The intestines are filled with meconium, which consists of cells shed from the gut lining, this will be the baby’s first bowel movement.
• Your baby’s immune system is still immature and will continue to develop.
• By now your baby must have come up with a lot of different patterns of sleeping.

Symptoms of 9^th month of pregnancy

Frequent contractions:

Braxton hicks contractions now are growing in number and frequency. Usually, they start, contraction length ranges from 30 seconds to around a minute. They just help prepare your body for the actual birth. Apart from contractions, if you feel a lot of pain then immediately consult your doctors and get a check-up done for complications.

Colostrum:

The colostrum secretion increases and now happens more regularly. Nothing is to be worried about the breasts leaking, only you have to make sure that it does not get embarrassing. Massage the belly region with olive oil and vitamin E supplements to prevent the skin from stretching and protects stretch marks.

Fatigue and sleepless nights:

You might feel fatigued during the day but find it difficult to sleep at night due to worries. You do need more rest, when you get stressed, talk to your husband and family. Focus on taking more care, do your exercise, pranayam practice ‘Lamaze’, ‘savasana’, you need to relax whenever possible.

Water breaking:

Most women have enough time before water naturally breaks, or if doesn’t break, the doctor decides to break water artificially. About 15% or fewer women break their water before the start of contractions. To overcome this situation, stay at home and avoid strenuous activities. Avoid bending and positions that put your pregnancy at risk.

9^th month pregnancy care

• Find out and understand signs of labor, which will include contractions, bleeding from the vagina, and a water break. 9^th month pregnancy pain is common and you need to thoroughly understand this feeling.
• Breastfeeding: it is now to learn the basics of breastfeeding. You need to familiarize yourselves with it.
• Baby proof: baby proof your home. Once the baby comes, it might be difficult to do anything later. Primarily, begin by covering the sharp edges of your furniture or any other apparatus.

Diet:

Vitamin A:

Food like spinach, carrots, and sweet potato should be added to your diet since they keep your eyesight in check. Well in advance, the vegetables help in the development of your child’s retina and cornea.

Folate-rich foods:

Your doctor must have given you supplements, but you still can change your diet.

Having folate-rich foods avoids any defect in the baby till nine months so you can add oranges, broccoli, eggs, beans, and potatoes to your diet.

Vitamin C:

For the 9^th month, you ought to eat lots of fruit and vegetables, which your body needs to stay healthy. An important nutrient that needs to be added for the same in the list is fruits like oranges and lemons and vegetables like broccoli.

Calcium:

Calcium is crucial for your child’s development. It is a rich source for the development of bone. It must have been prescribed by your doctor. Milk, yogurt, paneer, cheese, banana, and custard apple is rich in calcium and should be consumed regularly. Eat vegetables, seeds like sesame seeds, and oatmeal more often.

Meat:

Most lean meats are safe during pregnancy, white meat like chicken can be eaten.

Baby’s health comes priority over your taste, so avoid seafood as it can be dangerous to the baby.

Exercise:

The exercise regime for the 9^th month should be the same as the first month. Most of it should be basic and you should not move or bend too much.

Sleeping:

By the 9^th month, you will find difficulty sleeping and finding the right position to rest. The tossing and turning in bed will keep you awake for some time.

Walking:

Walking is the best exercise and you can be completely dependable on it. Stay active by walking in your home which will be beneficial for you.

Kegel exercises:

Yes, you might be nearing your delivery date, but doing these exercises through the months and this month as well will help keep your pelvic muscles flexible and better in shape during your contractions.

Prenatal yoga:

Yoga is the best exercise during pregnancy, and it is safe to do as it enhances your body’s elasticity and endurance strength, which allows you to have a better mind and physical strength during labor.

Swimming:

You can easily choose swimming to maintain an even weight gain. Swimming is an easy exercise and makes sure your joints aren’t put to test given your already weak health.

Exercise to prepare for labor

• Labor exercises are very important and must be practiced regularly.
• it will help them undergo labor with ease and overcome any negative effects easily and effectively.
• Modern-day living, work habits, and lifestyle fail to support a flexible pelvic floor, and strong abdominal and relaxed inner thigh muscles, required for comfortable and easy delivery.
• Practice labor exercises at least twice a day, with your doctor’s permission.

Tips for labor exercise:

• Practice daily after seven months.
• Perform gently as per your comfort level and physical capacity.
• Fully concentrate on the body while exercising.

Exercise 1

• Lie on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor.
• Keep right leg on the floor, lift left knee upward outwards and towards the left shoulder.
• Hold on to count five.
• Slowly, bring it down.
• Repeat three to five times.
• Repeat the same for the other leg.

Exercise 2

• Lie on your back with your knees bent.
• Take both knees upward and outward.
• Support your knees with your hand and open them to your maximum capacity.
• Hold to a count of five.
• Repeat 3 times.

Exercise 3

• Lie on your back with your knees bent.
• Take both knees upward and outward.
• Open to your maximum capacity.
• Hold your thighs from inside.
• With the support of thighs come up from the head and shoulders.
• Hold to a count of five.
• Repeat 3 times.

Exercise 4  

• Hold on to something firm.
• Keep your feet hip distance apart and feet in a v shape.
• Slowly lower yourself as much as possible.
• Allow your knees to go out over your feet.
• Hold for as long as comfortable.
• Rise slowly tightening inner thighs and pelvic floor muscles.

Sex during pregnancy in the 9^th month of pregnancy:

If you feel like you are ready to deliver your baby, sex might help to trigger contractions as is known. A little intimacy is good as long as you know and understand the risks of contraction and delivery. You don’t have to worry about your child, amniotic sac is there which will keep the baby safe.

9^th months pregnant belly and baby:

At this time, the baby drops down further into the pelvis. Until the baby comes out, the baby keeps adding on weight. 9th months pregnant baby’s position is usually head down. Sometimes the baby may also be in the breech position with the feet up. At the 9th month, your baby is about the size of a small watermelon. 9th month of pregnancy baby’s weight is about 3.3kg and 50.7cm in height.

Tips to overcome stress during the 9^th month of pregnancy

• Keep your hospital bag packed since it can be anytime now that the baby is ready to take birth.
• To keep your stress away have a positive mindset about everything around you.
• Warm baths and light music will help you sleep better, and nothing reduces your stress more than a good sleep.
• Don’t let your first child feel left out through the whole thing, the first child’s sadness can be a reason for your stress later.
• Your body changes a lot in this phase, keep the pregnancy going smoothly, and keep check-up records around to take to the hospital.

9^th month pregnancy tips:

• Suddenly sitting or standing or changing your position at this stage might lead to a drop in blood pressure, so do that slowly.
• Drink more water and sleep more than usual, to give your body the rest it needs. Staying hydrated is very important.
• Do not carry any heavy objects. This can be very harmful to the baby.
• Cut the unhealthy food off your diet chart.
• Consult your doctor before you decide to take any tablets or medicines on your own.

Sleeping position for 9^th months pregnant woman:

The sleeping position for your body at this time will be on the left side. It can be very difficult to sleep on any side. This will ensure that the baby gets enough nutrient supply and your body gets a good blood supply. Pregnancy now is almost ending soon, you will see the little one of your life. Prepare yourself and do not get anxious. It will be important to understand your body and the entire process.

When should you consult a doctor?

If you experience vaginal bleeding or if your water breaks, it is important to rush to your doctor. Understand the contractions to know if you are in labor already.

Kick counts

It is recommended that you keep track of the baby’s kick count from six months to make sure that they are okay. each day, record how long it takes for your baby to make 10 kicks, flutters, swishes, or rolls. You should feel at least 10 movements within two hours, but you will probably feel that many movements in a much shorter amount of time. If you notice major deviations from the pattern, check with your doctor.

Medical visits and check in the 9^th month of pregnancy

After 36 weeks, you will visit the clinic once every week.

Medical check-up

Routine checkup of blood pressure weight.

Size of the bump.

The Baby’s heartbeat and position will be examined.

Ultrasound and color doppler to

• Know the baby’s position.
• Check if the baby’s position – bottom-first or a breech position is ruled out.

9^th months plus / 40^th week

• Medical check-up.
• Weight blood pressure.
• The height of the fundus and the baby’s position is checked.

Ultrasound scan

Ultrasound was done to study the baby’s position, growth, placenta, and cord.

Guidance

If you have not delivered your baby, along with a routine examination, a vaginal examination will be done to check your cervix for vaginal delivery.

Your due date

• Your due date is expected to fall within the 40th week of pregnancy. However, only 4% of women give birth on their due date.
• Most women deliver their babies in the two weeks before or after their due date.

Be aware of the early signs of labor:

• Loss of cervical mucous plug, which is a bloodstained gel-like plugin uterus that seals your cervix
• A slow trickle or maybe even a rush of water from the vagina
• Strong contractions that become progressively closer and closer to each other and last longer and longer over time

Concerns in the 9^th month of pregnancy

Bleeding this month is an emergency, it may be very mild or extremely heavy, and might be accompanied by abdominal pain.

Causes of late pregnancy bleeding

• Problems with the placenta e.g. Placentas Previa, placentas cover opening to the cervix.
• Placenta abruption, where it comes away from the walls of the uterus.
• Rupture of the uterus.

These conditions are very dangerous if not treated immediately. If you notice bleeding or abdominal pain contact your doctor right away.

Overdue pregnancy

 If your baby is not born by the 40th week it is an overdue pregnancy, usually, an overdue pregnancy is just the result of a miscalculated due date, get lots of rest, and do your kick counts to monitor your baby’s health. Your doctor may need to induce labor.

Being birth ready

You may be apprehensive about labor and delivery, but knowing facts, and training for childbirth can help ease your fears. Take time to learn about the 3 phases of labor and the basics of childbirth. Find out about the possible interventions needed during labor and delivery inductions.

• Fetal monitoring
• Pain relief
• Epidurals
• Episiotomy
• Forceps and vacuum extraction
• Cesarean section

The physical symptoms of pregnancy can lead to irritability, mood swings, and impatience to get on with the birth. These feelings are perfectly normal.

Depression symptoms in late pregnancy often carry over into the postpartum period, so it is important to get these feelings checked out.

Pregnancy Myth and Fact

1. Myth:  Consuming ghee toward the end of pregnancy will facilitate a smooth and quick delivery

1. Fact: Ghee is not essential. Sometimes castor oil is suggested to induce labor. Ghee, butter, and oil tend to irritate the intestine causing loose motions. As nerve supply to the intestine and uterus is the same, uterine contractions get Initiated.

2. Myth: During pregnancy, the mother always develops a perfect facial glow.

2. Fact: Not always – during pregnancy, women do get pigmentation, greasy hair, and fatigue, which can occur due to hormonal changes.

3. Myth: All mothers-to-be get stretch marks

3. Fact: Chances of developing stretch marks are 50%–50%. This may be inherited. Mostly they are due to the stretching of the skin over the uterus.